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Mycoplasma hyopneumonia a threat to swine

Research continues as the swine industry attempts to mitigate economic losses from a common respiratory pathogen.

Dr. Amanda Sponheim, technical specialist veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim, says mycoplasma hyopneumonia is a unique threat to pork producers.

“It likes to live in the surface of the pig’s lung.  So it kind of makes it challenging for us to get antibiotics to work, and also for some of our diagnostics to work.  So it’s kind of a unique bacteria that we deal with in the industry that presents certain challenges.”

She tells Brownfield Mhp—which the virus is sometimes called—can lead to decreased feed efficiency, reduced average daily gains and increased medication costs.

Coughin is a symptom, but Sponheim says a diagnostic test will be needed for confirmation.

“A laryngeal swab has been shown to be a good tool, and it’s had better efficacy in a live animal versus an oral fluid sample.  And it’s an example of some of the unique challenges of mycoplasma hyopneumonia compared to other viruses, such as PRRS.”

She says it’s up to the producer whether to attempt controlling or eliminating mycoplasma hyopneumonia.

Control methods include antibiotics or allowing the animals to shed the virus, while herd closures are often necessary to eliminate Mhp.

 

 

 

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